Pavement, curb and gutter concrete laying machine

ABSTRACT

A concrete laying machine is provided which includes a frame having a rear portion adjustable or variable in width and carried by a pair of rear tandem wheel supporting assemblies. Height adjusting devices support the frame on the respective rear wheel supporting assemblies and a front frame portion is carried by a single, power-driven, wheel which is steerable through the use of a hydraulic motor. The front wheel is also vertically adjustable either manually or by power. A hopper, or concrete chamber, is mounted on the machine on the rear frame portion between laterally movable rails. The hopper is attached to the movable rails and is thus variable in size along with adjustment in the width of the frame.

D United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,864,858

Rochlort 1 Feb. 11, 1975 15 PAVEMENT, CURB AND GUTTER 3,161,117 12/1964 Supject 404/98 E IN ACHINE 3,175,477 3/1965 Cheney..... 404/84 CONCRET LAY G 3,218,944 11/1965 Larsen 404/98 Inventor: William K- ort, Farg 3.e35,131 1/1972 Larsen 1 404 93 x Dak. 3,779,661 12/1973 Godberson 11 404/72 1K 'Pt.d.T 'll, [73] Asslgnee ZZZ E Z L E Z 6 Primary Exammer-Nfle C. Byers. Jr.

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Cushman, Darby & [22] Filed: June 8, 1973 Cushman [211 App]. No.: 368,025

[57] ABSTRACT A concrete laying machine is provided which includes [30] Foreign Application Priority Data a frame having a rear portion adjustable or variable in June 16, 1972 Canada 144917 and carried a p of rear andem wheel p porting assemblies. Height adjusting devices support [52] US. Cl. 404/98 the frame on the respective rear wheel Supporting [5 ll!!- Cl. Semblies and a front frame portion is Carried a 1581 held of Search 404/72 gle, power-driven, wheel which is steerable through 404/96 the use of a hydraulic motor. The front wheel is also vertically adjustable either manually or by power. A [56] References C'ted hopper, or concrete chamber, is mounted on the ma- UNITE STATE PATENTS chine on the rear frame portion between laterally 1,994,082 3/1935 Abernathy 404/108 X movable rails. The hopper is attached to the movable 2,283,455 /1942 O m 404/110 rails and is thus variable in size along with adjustment 2,707,422 5/1955 Canfield 404/98 in the width of the frame 2,864,290 12/1958 Freeman 404/98 2,953,977 9/1960 Warren 404/110 14 ClalmS, Drawing Flgures 0 '1 '2/,;:Z'// a 0- Pp T 1 1 I U1 R aw 1 WM 205 200 $03 2067 PM SHEET U30F 12 PATENTEU FEB] 1 I975 .PATENTED 1 I975 SHEET CBUF 12 PATENTEI] FEB] 1 I975 SHEET U70F12 PATENTED FEB] 1 I975 SHEET USUF 12 F/eqzo.

FIG. 27.

PATENTEB FEB 1 1 I975 SHEET lZUF 12 PAVEMENT, CURB AND GUTTER CONCRETE LAYING MACHINE INVENTlON This invention relates to a machine for laying a ribbon of moldable plastic mixture such as concrete, asphalt or the like as the machine moves forwardly, and more particularly, such machine having an adjustable width of frame permitting the use of different sized molds and variously locating the same on the machine. The invention further relates to a concrete-laying machine having a removable hopper and also a hopper which is variable in size and variously positionable on the machine. The invention further relates to a machine for laying a ribbon of concrete and having a readily removable mold. The invention further relates to a concrete curb and gutter laying machine wherein the components subjected to the action of concrete therein, that is, the hopper, mold and agitator, are all detachably mounted and readily removable from the machine facilitating cleaning of the same. The invention further relates to a method of depositing a moldable plastic mixture such as concrete, asphalt or the like wherein the machine is propelled by driving a paddle in the hopper and simultaneously therewith applying braking action restraining forward movement of the machine. The method particularly relates to propelling the machine by reaction of extrusion in depositing the moldable mixture in place and simultaneously therewith applying braking forces restraining forward movement of the machine. The invention further relates to correlating the weight distribution of the machine on supports therefor such as wheels or the like, some of which at least are located adjacent the trailing end of a rearwardly extending shaping mold such that turning, to change direction as the machine moves forwardly, occurs about a radius located at or adjacent the trailing end of the mold thereby avoiding lateral shift on the deposited mass as it emerges from the trailing end of the shaping mold. The invention further relates to a concrete curb and gutter laying machine or the like incorporating a wheel drive for propelling the machine at substantially a constant speed in conjunction with the driven paddle whereby, in use, the driven paddle propels the machine forwardly against braking action of the drive assembly. The invention further relates to a concrete curb and gutter machine of the foregoing type incorporating automatic height adjustment and levelling and steering. The invention further relates to a mold for the foregoing machine incorporating slots extending transversely therethrough relative to the direction of travel during forming of the ribbon of moldable plastic mixture as the machine moves forwardly. The invention further relates to a machine incorporating any of the foregoing features individually or combinations thereof.

PRIOR ART Curb and gutter laying machines are known as are also asphalt laying machines, all of which incorporate various features to deposit a ribbon of the moldable plastic mixture as the machine moves forwardly. The mixture deposited is referred to herein as a moldable plastic mixture and may include concrete, asphalt or the like. In depositing of asphalt, it will be understood that heating of the mold is required, as is known in the prior art, to prevent the mixture from sticking onto the mold. The mixture hereinafter will be referred to as concrete and it is to be understood such, however, is to include equivalents as is known and common to the art of providing pavements which set to a hard, rigid surface.

The present invention is an improvement over a concrete curb and gutter laying machine disclosed in applicants copending Canadian application No. 33,908 filed Oct. 30, 1968.

Further machines are also known as exemplified by Canadian Pat. No. 740,643, issued Aug. 16, 1966 and the following U.S. Pat. No. 3,16l,l 17, issued Dec. 15, 1964, 3,210,710, issued Oct. 5, 1965, 3,041,945, issued July 3, 1962, 2,054,436, issued Sept. 15, 1936.

DISCUSSION OF PRIOR ART In the afore-mentioned Canadian Pat. No. 740,643, there is disclosed a concrete mobile curb-laying machine, wherein a hopper and mold are movably mounted on a mobile vehicle and wherein there is included sensors and controls to effect automatic steering and height. The concrete mixture is delivered to the hopper wherein vertically disposed augers are driven to transfer the same into an open bottom, rearwardly extending mold. The machine is propelled forwardly by separate power means during depositing of the mass of concrete in a ribbon and with such arrangement, it is difficult to maintain uniformity in the deposited mass which is overcome by the present machine wherein movement of the machine forwardly is dependent upon reactionary forces on the deposited mass.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,161,] 17 discloses a curb-laying machine wherein a paddle is utilized in a hopper to agitate the mixture and transfer of the mixture from such hopper to an open-bottom mold is effected through the use of a spiral screw. The screw delivers the concrete through a closed channel into the open-bottom mold and such an arrangement is not effective in compacting the deposited mixture onto the supporting surface as is the case herein, wherein the paddle beats the mixture through the open-bottom mold onto the supporting sur face and further compacts the deposited mass in the mold as the machine moves forwardly. Manual height adjustments are provided but there is no coordination of the height relative to a reference datum or levelling transverse to the direction of travel as the machine travels forwardly except by hand manipulated means.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,210,710 discloses an attachment for a paving apparatus wherein sensors are provided to effect control in the height or grade in the resultant paved road. A floating screed is utilized and which freely rests upon the paved surface by virtue of the weight of the screed. The angle of attack of the screed determines the height of the resulting paved surface. Propulsion of the machine is through the use of crawler treads.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,041,945 discloses a road paver wherein an agitator extends transversely of the mold adjacent an open bottom therein and wherein such agitator is driven by direct engagement to the axle of wheels rotated as the machine is drawn forwardly by a tractor unit. The road paver does not include a rearwardly-extending mold and, accordingly, there cannot be compaction of the deposited mass within the mold.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,054,436 discloses a road paving machine wherein an agitator having blades is mounted in a hopper above an open bottom therein, but such agitator is not located in such a manner as to transfer the concrete mixture in a compacted manner into a rearwardlyextending mold.

PRESENT INVENTION, IMPROVEMENTS AND ADVANTAGES The present machine has the following unique features and characteristics:

1. Adjustability of the frame permits versatility whereby molds of various sizes may be utilized;

2. Detachable mounting of the mold permits the same to be' readily removed and the tractor and frame portion may be used along with other attachments for other purposes such as preparing the surface on which a concrete mix is to be deposited;

3. A mold is readily detachably mounted on the machine whereby it may be quickly changed, and also, the mold and hopper are readily removable from the entire machine to facilitate cleaning of the same;

4. The adjustable frame permits variously positioning the mold on the machine, i.e. between the beams, or to one side or the other of the machine;

5. The weight distribution is such that turns of small radius can be made;

6. Propelling and braking action by the drive wheel controlling forward movement and acting in conjunction with the effect of the driven paddle permit control in the deposited mass with movement forward taking place upon suitable compaction of the deposited mass in the mold;

7. Compaction of the deposited material in the mold and on the ground and propelling of the machine by a paddle located in the hopper eliminates the need for a vibrator on the shaping mold;

8. Without the use of vibrators, the machine is adapted for depositing asphalt mixtures in which case heat is applied to the mold maintaining the mold at a higher temperature than the deposited material;

9. A single front wheel on the machine allows one rear wheel on the formed concrete runway and the other on the excavated base for the curb and gutter at the side of the road, thus leading the machine to use in various field conditions;

10. The removable hopper permits having sides of different heights which allow compaction of a deposited mass to be carried out at various selected heights from the ground;

I l. Removability of sections of the hopper allows not only height adjustment in addition to screwjacks on the supporting wheel, but also, positioning opposite sides of the mold at different heights;

12. Removability of the hopper wall sections allows compacting the deposited mass against a previously deposited concrete surface; and

13. The variability of driving speed of the paddle gives wide variation in the speed of depositing a mixture not available in vibrator-type machines wherein the speed of deposit is dependent upon the degree of effectiveness of vibration.

LIST OF DRAWINGS The various aspects of the present invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a right-hand side,'elevational view of a concrete curb and gutter machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a left-hand side elevational view of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear, oblique view from the right-hand side of the machine illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial front elevational view of the machine shown in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a portion of the frame of the machine;

FIG. 6 is a partial oblique view of the frame illustrated in FIG. 4 and showing more detail therein, along with the supporting wheel assemblies for the front and rear portions;

FIG. 7 is a sectional, side elevational view illustrating the hopper with the paddle assembly pivotally mounted therein and a mold as well as a ballast tank detachably connected to the hopper and together forming a portion thereof;

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of a portion of the paddle assembly;

FIG. 9 is an oblique view showing a portion of the adjustable frame and variable-sized hopper detachably connected thereto;

FIG. 10 is an oblique view of one side wall member of the hopper illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view ofa ballast tank and hopper wall connecting member;

FIG. 12 is an oblique, partial elevational view taken from the right-hand rear of the machine, showing the mold and hopper detachably connected therefrom and having the paddle assembly pivotally mounted on an adjustable width frame;

FIG. 13 is a partial, sectional, oblique view of a portion of the adjustable frame, illustrating means for varying the size thereof;

FIG. 14 is an oblique view of a modified cross member for the adjustable frame;

FIG. 15 is an oblique view of a curb and gutter mold removed from the machine;

FIG. 16 is a front elevational view of the mold illustrated in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a rear elevational view of the mold illustrated in FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along section 18-18 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 19 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken along section l9-19 of FIG. 15;

FIG. 20 is a partial, side elevational view illustrating details of the drive mechanism for the paddle in the hopper;

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 9 illustrating a further modification to the hopper and agitators therein;

FIG. 22 is a partial oblique view illustrating an attachment for use in moving the concrete through the spout from a ready-mix truck into the hopper of the machine;

FIG. 23 is a schematic of the hydraulic pumps and control and circuitry for controlling the machine;

FIG. 24 is a partial block and schematic of the electrical control circuitry; and

FIG. 25 is a partial, oblique, block diagram illustrating a modified mounting arrangement for grade and steering sensors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION a. General Arrangement A machine for laying a moldable plastic mixture such as concrete, asphalt or the like on the ground over which the machine travels during forward movement thereof is shown in the drawings. The machine includes a main frame 100 supported at the trailing end by a pair of tandem rear wheel assemblies 200 and at the front by a steerable and driven front wheel assembly 300. The drive for the front wheel consists of an hydraulic motor having characteristics whereby braking action occurs should the machine be propelled at a speed faster than the driven rate of the motor. A power plant 400 is mounted on the forward portion of the frame and hopper, paddle wheel and mold assembly 500 for depositing the mixture 20 is mounted on a trailing end portion of the frame.

b. Main Frame The main frame 100 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) has a front portion 101 and a rear portion 102 on which is mounted respectively the power plant 400 and assembly 500. The front frame portion 101 is a weldment of members such as box beams 103, 104 and 105 providing a rigid structure. The rear frame portion consists of respective longitudinally extending, laterally spacedapart box beams 106 and 107 adjustably attached for reasons which will become apparent hereinafter at their respective forward ends to a box-type cross-beam 108. In the embodiment illustrated and described herein, the beams 103 and 104 of the front frame portion 101 are rigidly secured to the cross-beam such as by welding or the like. A pivotal connection, however, could be used if desired to provide an articulated vehicle wherein the frame portions 101 and 102 would be movable relative to one another in a well-known manner of articulated frame wheel vehicle construction. Couplings for such purpose and vehicles of such characteristics are well known, and accordingly, are not described herein.

The crossbeam 108 has respective front and rear vertically disposed faces 109 and 110 and respective upper and lower horizontal faces 111 and 112. A pair of bars 113 and 114 are secured rigidly to the beam 108 and are located on the rear face 110. The bars 113 and 114 extend longitudinally along the beam and project respectively above and below the box beam faces 111 and 112. The projecting portions of the bars have respective sloped slide-bearing surfaces 115 and 116 which are engaged by a pair of slide-bearing blocks 117 and 118 mounted on each of the beams 106 and 107 at the forward ends thereof. The bearing blocks are located respectively on the upper and lower surfaces of the respective beams and each slide block 117 and 118 has a groove or channel 119 on one face thereof corresponding generally in cross-section to the outer crosssectional shape of the projecting portion of the respective slide bars. The pair of blocks on one beam have their grooves 119 facing one another and slidably receive the slide bars 113 and 114.

The beams 106, 107 by the foregoing arrangement, are each slidably mounted at their forward end on the cross-beam 108 for movement toward and away from one another. The spacing between the beams may, thus, be variously adjusted to different positions accommodating hopper and/or mold assemblies of different sizes. The beams, furthermore, may be variously positioned whereby the hopper and mold assembly 500 may be mounted therebetween or to one side or the other of the rearwardly-extending longitudinal beams.

It will be apparent that only one beam may be slidably mounted to vary the spacing therebetween and, thus, accommodate different widths of molds. However, by having both beams slidable, the same can be accomplished and in addition, the mold hopper assembly 500 may be shifted laterally of the length of the machine to a desired position.

The slide bars and 116 extend the entire length of the cross-beam 108, thus permitting moving the beams 106 and 107 into abutting relation with one another in any location along the length of the beam 108 to a maximum space between the beams wherein they arelocated at respective ones of opposite ends of the beam 108. The beams are secured in the respective desired positions by turning threaded locking studs 120 to engage the slope-bearing face of the respective bars 113 and 114.

The cross-beam 108 may be varied in length (see FIG. 13) by securing thereto one or more beam extensions 121 at one or the other or both ends thereof. The extension beams 12] may be detachably secured to the cross-beam 108 in any convenient manner, as for example, a pair of bearing blocks 117A and 118A engaging lugs 113A and 114A secured respectively to the extension beam 121 and cross-beam 108.

Alternatively, the beam 106 and 107 may be secured to respective portions of an extensible and retractable beam substituted for the cross-beam 108. The extensible beam may be telescopic, thereby variable in length, and movable by manual and/or power means. Shown in FIG. 14 is a modified cross-beam 108A consisting of a central section 122 on which are mounted movable sections 123 and 124. Extension and retraction may be effected by a screw and nut combination, worm gear and rack or hydraulic cylinder, all of which may be mounted internally of the beam and none of which is shown. The from frame portion 101 may be rigidly, or in the case of an articulated vehicle, pivotally attached to the central beam section 122.

c. Tandem Rear Wheel Assemblies A tandem rear wheel assembly 200 is located respectively one on each of opposite longitudinal sides of the machine and extend longitudinally along the rear frame portion 102. The pair of rear wheel assemblies 200 are located below and connected to respective beams 106 and 107 by respective screw jacks 201 and 202.

Each tandem wheel assembly 200 consists of a major frame 203 pivotally connected at a position approximately mid-length thereof to the lower end of the screw jack 201 or 202 associated therewith in a manner to be described hereinafter. The major frame is an inverted U-shaped in cross-section beam and a pair of minor frames 206 and 207 are pivotally attached thereto in tandem relation respectively by pivot pins 204 and 205. The pivotal connection of the major frame 203 to the screw jack 201 or 202, as the case may be, is located between the pivot pins 204 and 205 and slightly behind the mid-distance therebetween so as to place a major portion of the weight on the rear wheel assembly for a purpose as will be described and become more apparent hereinafter. In one embodiment of the invention, the weight distribution is such that turning of the vehicle during forward movement occurs about the rear wheels with the tandem wheels forwardly thereof sliding laterally. The pivotal connection of the screw jack, in one instance, to provide this effect, is located 1V2 inches behind mid-wheel section. An effective arrangement has been found to have the pivot pin 204 18 inches forwardly of pivot pin 215 and pivot pin 205 l6z inches rearwardly of the same pin 215. A shorter lever arm accordingly occurs rearwardly of the pivotal mounting 215 of the major frame to the vehicle, thereby transferring the major portion of the weight to the rear wheel of each tandem wheel assembly.

Each minor frame consists of a rectangular, box-like section having an open top and bottom with a pair of pneumatic tired wheels 208 and 209 journalled thereon in tandem relation by respective pivot pins or axles 210 and 211.

The screw jacks 201 and 202 each consist of a threaded screw 212 pivotally mounted by a floating or self-aligning journal 213 at the upper end thereofto the beam associated therewith and a threaded nut 214 is pivotally secured to respective ones of the wheel assemblies, as for example, by the pivot pin 215. The screws 212 located respectively on the right and lefthand side of the machine are rotated by respective reversible hydraulic motors M1 and M2. Through actuation of such motors, the rear frame portion 102 may be raised and lowered relative to the wheelsupporting assemblies 200 and by individual control of the respective motors, the frame may be tilted transverse to the length of the machine.

d. Front Wheel Assembly The front wheel assembly 300 consists of a pneumatic tired wheel 301 journalled on an inverted, U- shaped frame 302 by a pin or axle 303 and such frame 302 is pivotally mounted on a front wheel assembly mounting plate 304 by a pivot pin 305. The mounting plate 304 is adjustably mounted on the front frame portion 101 for adjustable movement toward and away from the rear frame portion 102. By having the wheel assembly movable forwardly and rearwardly, the weight distribution may be shifted, and also, lengthening and shortening the wheel base affects the steering characteristic. Moving the front wheel assembly rearwardly shortens the wheel base making it more sensitive for steering, also giving where necessary greater road adhesion by increasing the weight on the front wheel. This is desirable in travelling up steep grades or other types of difficult terrain over which the machine might be used.

The pin 303 is journalled in bearing blocks 306 and 307 which are slidably mounted on vertical extending slots 308 and 309 of legs 310 and 311 in the frame 302. The bearing blocks 306 and 307 are adjustably moved in their respective slots by respective screw jacks 312 and 313 in any conventional manner. Alternatively, the bearing blocks may be adjusted by hydraulic jacks for automatic raising and lowering and which may be controlled from a central control point at the rear of the machine to be described hereinafter.

The frame 302, as mentioned previously, is pivotally mounted on the front frame portion 101 by a pin 305 and plate 304. To permit controlled steering, a tooth gear 314 is secured to the web 315 of the frame 302 and is located at a position between the web 315 and plate 304 in concentric rotation about pivot pin 305. The gear is suitably spaced from the web 315 and plate 304 to receive a link drive chain 316 driven by a sprocket 316A controlled by the hydraulic motor M3 through a drive chain 317.

The pneumatic tired wheel 301 is secured to the shaft of axle 303 to which is also secured a sprocket 318,

such sprocket being driven by hydraulic motor M4 through a drive sprocket 319 secured to the motor and a link chain 320. The motor M4 is secured to a mounting plate 321 which, in turn, is adjustably mounted on the leg member 311 by slots 322 and bolts 323. The threaded stud 324 is threaded through a bracket 325 and rotatably secured to the bracket 321. Rotation of the stud 324 thus effects the movement of the bracket 321 to adjust tension in the drive chain 320. The hydraulic motor M4 is of the type commercially available from Shar-Lynn Company of Eden Prairie, Minnesota and identified by the Trade Mark Orbit and designated in sales information brochure 9-107. The motor is also disclosed in US. Re'issue Pat. No. 25,29].

e. Hopper, Mold and Paddle Wheel Assembly The hopper, mold and paddle wheel assembly 500 (see FIG. 7) includes a hopper 600 for holding a supply of concrete, a combined ballast tank and hopper support 700, a shaping mold 800 detachably connected to the hopper and a paddle mixer 900.

The hopper 600 (see FIGS. 9 and 10) consists of a pair of L-shaped in plan view, walls 601 secured to respective ones of the beams 106 and 107. Each wall 601 has a vertical side wall 602 and a front wall portion 603, the latter of which abuts against slide rails 113 and 114 secured to the cros-beam 108. Side wall 602 is detachably secured to the beam associated therewith by threaded studs 604 or some other conventional means such as lugs and pins permitting readily removing the same from the frame. The front walls 603 of the pair of walls 601 are spaced apart from one another and joined together by a connecting plate 605 secured thereto by studs or bolts 606. In such an arrangement, the holes in the wall 603 and/or connecting plate may be located to permit variously positioning the spacing between the front walls 603. Alternatively, the front walls, instead of being interconnected by a connecting plate, may be offset from one another and disposed in overlapping relationship permitting relative movement of the walls in adjusting the spacing between beams 106 and 107 to the extent as permitted by the amount of overlap.

Each wall 602 is provided with a rearwardly facing upper and lower U-shaped lug or stirrup designated respectively 607 and 608, the purpose of which will be come apparent hereinafter. Each wall 602 is also provided with a journal mounting assembly 609 for rotatably supporting the paddle mixer 900.

The ballast tank and hopper support 700 is illustrated in FIG. 11 and consists of a closed tank for holding a fluid and is defined by a front sloped wall 701, a rear vertical wall 702, a top wall 703, a bottom wall 704 and respectively opposite end walls 705 and 706. A filler spout or neck 707 extends upwardly from the top wall, but obviously, may be located elsewhere in any convenient manner, and also, drains may be provided in the lower portion of the tank. A pair of lugs 708 and 709 project forwardly from the front wall 701 adjacent, but spaced upwardly, from the lower edge thereof and have an outer face substantially flush with the respective outer side walls 705 and 706. A further pair of lugs 710 and 711 consisting of horizontally extending bars are secured to the rear wall 702 and project in opposite directions laterally beyond respective side walls 705, 706. The lugs 710 and 711 each have an aperture 712 extending therethrough for receiving a pin 713 detachably connecting the tank to the rear end of respective ones of the frame rearwardly extending beams 106 and 107. A further pair of apertured lugs 714 and 715 are secured to the rear wall 702 and project downwardly therefrom, each lug consisting of a bar disposed perpendicular to the bars providing lugs 710 and 711. Each lug 714 and 715 has an elongated, vertically disposed slot 716 for detachably connecting thereto the rearward portion of the rearwardly extending mold to be described hereinafter. The vertical slots, as will become apparent, provide for vertical movement of the trailing end of the mold within the limits defined by the length of the slot.

The ballast tank and hopper support 700 is detachably connected to the hopper by lugs 708 and 709 slidably fitting into stirrup lugs 608 on the respective pair of hopper side walls 602. The ballast tank 700 is secured in position by the lugs 710 and 711 which fit between a pair of parallel, spaced-apart bracket members 150 and 151 secured rigidly to the rear end of each of beams 106 and 107 and apertured to receive the pin 713 which passes through the hole 712 in the respective lugs. The tank 700 is a metal rigid assembly interconnecting the trailing end of the beams and forward wall 701 forms the rear wall of the hopper for receiving concrete as will be seen hereinafter. It will be readily apparent the ballast tank and hopper support is readily removed from the hopperby simply removing the two pins 713 and pulling the assembly 700 to the rear relative to the hopper.

The ballast tank and hopper support 700 is hollow and thereby adapted to hold a supply of water or other fluid placing suitable weight on the machine as may be required to prevent the same from being lifted by the action of depositing concrete utilizing the paddle to be described hereinafter. In the event ballast is not required, the tank 700 may be utilized as a supply of treating fluid for the surface of the concrete and which may be sprayed through nozzles, not shown, or the like as the machine moves forwardly depositing the ribbon of concrete curb and gutters or side walks as the case may be.

The shaping mold 800 (see FIG. consists of respectively opposite side walls 801 and 802, a rear wall 803, a front wall 804 terminating at its upper end in a rearwardly directed lip 805, and a bottom wall 806. The bottom wall extends longitudinally of the mold and determines the shape of the mixture deposited by the machine as it moves forwardly. The bottom wall 806, in the illustrated embodiment, has a first lower portion 807 and a second upper portion 808 laterally offset from one another and interconnected by a vertical wall portion 809. The walls lay a deposited concrete mass, wall 807 forming the gutter portion and walls 808 and 809 together forming the curb portion of a curb and gutter laid by the machine as it moves forwardly. The front wall 804 is curved as seen from FIGS. 7, 15 and 18, the curvature being appropriate to allow rotational movement of the paddle to be described hereinafter, the curvature of the wall following approximately the are traced by the paddle arms as the paddle assembly rotates.

The side walls 801 and 802 have respective ones of a pair of lugs 810 projecting forwardly therefrom adjacent their lower edge and fit into stirrups 608 of the respective hopper walls 602 and 601. The lugs 810 and stirrups 608 thereby detachably mount the forward end of the mold in the hopper. The wall 804 of the mold and the forward wall 701 of the ballast tank and hopper support 700 define the rear wall of the hopper for receiving a moldable mixture to be deposited by the machine as it moves forwardly.

The rear wall 803 of the mold has respective pairs of lugs 811 and 812 secured to the rear wall 803 adjacent the upper end thereof and project rearwardly therefrom. The lugs are apertured and the lugs of the respective pairs are spaced apart from one another receiving therebetween respective ones of the ballast tank lugs 714 and 715. A pin passes through aligned apertures in the pair of lugs 811 through the elongated slot 716 in the ballast tank lug 714, the elongated slot permitting the trailing end of the mold to move up and down relative to the tank within the limit defined by the length of the slot. Similarly, a pin projects through aligned apertures in the pair of lugs 812, such pin also passing through the elongated slot 716 of lug 715. It is thus seen the mold is readily detachably mounted on the machine by use of the lugs 810 and the pairs oflugs 811 and 812. FIG. 7 illustrates the mold mounted in position and secured to the hopper walls at the forward end by the lug 810 and at the trailing end, vertically movably connected to the ballast tank 700. The rearwardly directed lip 805 on the front wall 804 passes over the junction of the lower wall 704 and front wall 701 of the ballast tank, thereby providing a hinge point for movement of the mold, and also, supporting the same in vertical relation at the forward end.

As previously mentioned, the bottom wall 807, together with the side walls 801 and 802, determine the shape of the deposited ribbon of material. The wall 809 is tapered to narrow in size rearwardly from the front wall 804, and, as an example, it has been found effective results can occur wherein the front leading edge of wall 809 has a depth of 6.5 inches and the trailing end a depth of 6 inches. The wall 808 is sloped downwardly and rearwardly toward the rear corresponding to the taper of wall 809, thereby providing approximately a half-inch taper. The wall 807 also slopes downwardly and rearwardly from the front wall 804 to the rear wall 803, and again, the amount of slope providing good results is approximately one-half inch, this being provided by the respective side walls 801 and 802 tapered in a direction from the front portion of the respective walls toward the rear.

During operation of the machine depositing a ribbon of concrete, bubbles of air entrained in the concrete occur at the interface between the wall 806 of the mold and the concrete being deposited. To allow for the escape of these entrained air bubbles, a pair of elongated, substantially parallel slots 813 and 814 are provided in the mold wall 806. The slots 813 and 814 extend transversely to the length of the mold, that is, transverse to the length of the ribbon deposited by the mold as the machine moves forwardly and extend substantially from wall 801 to the wall 802. One or more of such slots may be provided and are located preferably adjacent the trailing end of the mold. In referring to FIG. 18, it will be seen opposite edges defining the respective slots are offset from one another in each of the slots. For example, the slot 813 is defined by a leading edge 815 and a trailing edge 816 and such edges are offset from one another with the trailing edge 816 being at a higher elevation than the leading edge 815. This facilitates the escape of captured air bubbles and also allows for re-shifting and orientation of surface stones in the concrete with compaction of the same following forward movement of the mold by the surface 817 on the mold which is sloped downwardly and rearwardly. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 18, the entire surface 817 between two adjacent slots 813 and 814 is sloped downwardly and rearwardly; however, this need not be so. The same results cans be accomplished by having the edge 816 curve gently upward adjacent the respective slots.

In the mold illustrated in FIG. 15, reinforcing bars 818 are secured to the mold wall 806 at positions spaced from one another transversely of the mold. Each bar 818 is secured to the wall at points ahead of and behind the pair of slots and at a position therebetween. The portion of the mold between two adjacent slots is thereby reinforced providing a rigid shaping surface.

The paddle assembly 900 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) is pivotally mounted in the hopper for rotation about an axis transverse to the direction of travel of the machine. The paddle 900 consists of a shaft 901 journalled at opposite ends in respective opposite side walls 602 of the hopper by journals attached to the mounting brackets 609. A plurality of arms 902 radiate outwardly from the shaft 901 at intervals spaced longitudinally along the shaft. Each arm 902 has a plate 903 secured thereto adjacent the free end providing a working face and such plates are located on the leading side of the arm with reference to the direction of rotation. The direction of rotation is clockwise as viewed in FIG. 7 and, as indicated by the arrow therein, with movement of the machine being from left to right as viewed in the same figure during laying of a concrete curb and gutter. The arms 902 of the paddle may be straight as illustrated in FIG., 7, or alternatively, curved backwardly with reference to the direction of rotation as seen in FIG. 21. The paddle faces 903, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, are angularly positioned on the free end of the respective arms. The angle of inclination and the positioning of the shaft 901, with reference to the front face 804 ofthe mold, is such that during rotation of the paddle, the plate faces 903 force the concrete mixture horizontally rearwardly into the open leading end of the downwardly facing mold, such mold being defined generally by the previously defined mold bottom wall 806 and side walls 801 and 802.

The angle of the plate 903 on the end of an arm 902 is preferably such that as the plate moves past the leading forward end of the open end of the mold the plate face is substantially perpendicular to such open end. The length of the arms and the positioning of the shaft 901 is also such that during rotation of the paddle mixer, the arms move through an arc in the lower portion of the hopper which is located in a plane vertically below a horizontal plane of the mold wall 806. As will be explained hereinafter, and which will become more apparent hereinafter, such arrangement compacts the deposited mixture in the mold as the machine moves forwardly, this being accomplished by driving the paddle at a speed faster than the forward movement of the machine while the concrete ribbon is being deposited. The reactionary forces of the paddle on the deposited mixture propels the machine and, as previously mentioned, braking action is applied resisting forward movement, this braking action being applied to the front wheel through the drive motor M4. The paddle shaft 901 may be circular or rectangular or of any other cross-sectional configuration and the respective arms 902 may be permanently, or alternatively, detachably secured thereto. In FIG. 8, there is illustrated an embodiment wherein the respective arms are detachably secured to a square shaft 901 through a U-shaped coupling 904 fitting snugly onto the square shaft 901 and locked in place by tapered locking pins 905. The paddle members may be held in position longitudinally of the shaft by arranging the bracket members 904 to engage one another in abutting relation, thereby holding the arms 902 in appropriate spaced relation longitudinally along the shaft. One or more shafts may be secured to each mounting bracket 904, thereby providing versatility in arranging the number of paddle arms on a shaft as may be required depending upon the mix being deposited.

The paddle shaft 901 is driven by two hydraulic motors M5 and M6 through a gear and chain drive. The gear box 1000 is mounted in a floating manner on the frame beam 107 by any conventional means, such that the gear box is self-aligning with the shaft 901 permitting direct connection thereto without having to require a flexible coupling. The motors M5 and M6 drive respective gears 1001 and 1002 journalled for rotation on appropriate bearings in the gear casing 1004. A shaft coupling 1005 is journalled in the gear casing and has a non-symmetrical aperture 1006 for receiving a correspondingly shaped end of the paddle shaft 901. The shaft connecting member has a sprocket 1007 secured thereto and which is driven by motors M5 and M6 through a drive chain 1008.

As seen from FIG. 20, the gear casing is partially located within the box beam 107 and may be detachably retained therein, as for example, by lugs 1009 and brackets 1010 secured respectively to the gear casing 1004 and beam 107. The brackets 1010 may be detachably mounted on the beam, as for example, by studs 1011 or any other convenient conventional means. The motors M5 and M6 extend exteriorly of the beam 107 through an aperture 107A in the beam, thus placing the motors in a readily accessible position for servicing, and at the same time, permitting the same to be directly mounted on the gear casing.

In FIG. 21, there is illustrated a modified arrangement of the hopper and paddle mixer wherein a second paddle mixer 900A is located vertically above the paddle mixer 900 and the two paddle mixers are driven either in timed relation through a suitable gear box or individually by separate motor drives. Each paddle mixer 900 and 900A may be the same as described with reference to FIG. 7, or alternatively, the lower mixer 900 may have curved paddle arms 902A as shown in FIG. 21.

A modified hopper 600A is illustrated in FIG. 21, wherein the hopper is a unitary assembly having a front wall 610A, a pair of laterally spaced-apart walls 602A and 603A and a rear wall 604A. As in the previous embodiments, the hopper has an open bottom wall 605A which opens directly onto the surface over which the machine moves during depositing ofa mixture from the hopper and which is shaped by the mold as the machine moves forwardly. The mold extends rearwardly from the hopper open bottom wall 605A as a continuation thereof and, as will be apparent from the previous description, the rearwardly extending mold has an open front leading end which, in FIG. 21, is designated 606A.'In the modified hopper 600A, a second rear wall 607A is provided wherein there is formed a tank 700A for holding a supply of fluid. The tank may be used as a ballast by carrying fluid of sufflcient quantity to provide additional weight as may be required during use of the machine. Alternatively, the tank may be utilized to carry curing agents or other protective spray-on fluids for applying to the deposited concrete mix as the machine moves forwardly, as for example, by spraying or the like.

in FIG. 22, there is illustrated a ready-mix concrete truck 1100 of the conventional type having a U-shaped spout 1101 extending thereform and through which the concrete is fed to a hopper 600 of the foregoing ma chine as the machine moves forwardly. Since the machine travels over undulating terrain and the truck may travel over terrain which varies in height differing from that of the concrete-laying machine, difficulties may be encountered in moving the concrete through the trough or chute 1101 into the concrete machine hopper. For this purpose, there is provided an attachment to the present machine consisting of a power-driven auger 1200 which may be detachably mounted on the chute 1101 by a bracket 1201. The power-driven auger 1200 consists of an auger member 1202 provided with a shaft 1203 which is, connected in driving relation through a suitable drive mechanism, for example, a flexible coupling 1204 to an hydraulic motor 1205. The motor 1205 is connected to an hydraulic pump on the previously described concrete-laying machine. f. Hydraulic Circuitry and Controls A schematic of the hydraulic control circuitry is illustrated in FIG. 23 and in reference to the same, there are three hydraulic pumps P1, P2 and P3 which, as seen from FIG. 4, are mounted on the front of the machine and driven by the power plant 400 which is an internal combustion engine. The pump P1 is a conventional hydraulic pump having a capacity of approximately 8.5 gallons per minute at 2500 rpm. and a pump suitable for such is commercially available from Vickers and designated GA6-2A-l0. The pump P2 is a conventional hydraulic pump having a capacity of approximately 7 gallons per minute at 800 rpm. and a pump suitable for such use is a Vickers PVBS-RSY-ZOCMll. The pump P3 for controlling drive motor M4 whereby the same may be used to drive or brake the machine is a Vickers variable displacement piston-type pump commercially available and designated, for example, Vickers PVBIO or Vickers V30-l Pl7-1C. The pump P1 discharges to a sump S through a line L1 and provides fluid under pressure to motors M5 and M6 for driving the same through a line L2. A flow control valve PC] is located in the line L2 between the pump P1 and the motors M5 and M6 which, in turn, drive the paddle 900. Pump P2 discharges to sump S through a line L3 and provides fluid under pressure through a line L4 to servo valves SVl, SV2 and SV3 discharge to sump S through a line L5. Servo valve SVl through electrical remote controls located at an operators station at the trailing end of the vehicle to be described hereinafter control the supply of fluid to the steering motor M3 through lines L6 and L7. Servo valve SV2 similarly through a remotely located electrical control controls fluid to the motor Ml through line L8 and L9. The servo valve SV3 controls the supply of fluid under pressure to motor M2 through lines L10 and L11, the motor M2 being a slope control motor. The pump P3 discharges to sump S through lines L12 and L13 and supplies fluid under pressure to the front wheel drive motor M4 through lines L14 and L15.

The hydraulic sump tank S is mounted on the front frame portion 101 and stands vertically on the beam 103 at the right-hand forward end of the machine as seen from FIG. 1. The sump tank S extends longitudinally along the motor 400 to one side thereof and a junction box JB is mounted on the top thereof serving as a connection for detachably connecting lines thereto for the electrical control circuitry. A cooling radiator for the motor 400 is located transversely of the machine mid-length thereof and is supported by the frame cross-beam 108. An oil-cooling radiator is mounted between the motor cooling radiator 401 and the motor 400 and services to maintain the hydraulic fluid at a desirable temperature.

g. Electrical Controls A control box CB is mounted on the frame beam 106 by an arm by a rotatable coupling 171 so that the control box may be swung to a position adjacent the trailing end of the machine or to the right-hand side thereof. The control box CB is similarly rotatably mounted by a coupling 172 on the arm 170 which permits turning the control box on the arm to a convenient location for the operator. Controls are provided at the control box whereby the operator may manually steer the machine, raise and lower the same on the rear tandem wheel support assemblies and/or tilt the machine transversely to the direction of travel. The manual controls are an override to an automatic system whereby the machine may be steered automatically and also controlled automatically for height and slope transversely of the machine automatically by components mounted on the machine and sensors which have elements projecting laterally from the machine engaging a datum line parallel to the path of travel. In FIG. 24 there is illustrated partially in block and schematic the control circuitry for automatic operation and which includes a steering sensor SS mounted on an arm supported by the beam 106 of the frame and projecting outwardly therefrom to the right of the machine at approximately mid-length thereof. The steering sensor SS has a movable probe element 1400 which engages a datum reference line 1401 held by stakes 1402 at spaced-apart intervals and positioned to provide an appropriate path of travel for the machine as it moves forwardly. The steering sensor SS is a component available from the Honeywell Company and designated by their part No. SB104A1013. The second sensing component designated GS is mounted on the machine adjacent the trailing end thereof and controls the grade of the machine in a manner to be discussed hereinafter. Each of the steering sensor SS and grade sensor GS are mounted on respective ones of an arm 1403 which is adjustably, slidably supported in a bracket 1404 secured to the frame of the machine. The grade sensor GS has a movable sensing probe 1405 which slidably engages the datum or reference line 1401. The probe elements 1400 and 1405, through slidable engagement with the reference line 1401, control automatically the steering and grade of the machine as it moves forwardly in depositing a ribbon of concrete pavement, curb or gutter or the like as the case may be. The steering sensor SS is connected to the junction box by a coil cord 1406 and a detachable coupling 1407. Similarly, the grade sensor GS is connected to the junction box by a coil cord 1408 and a detachable connector or cupling 

1. A machine for laying a plastic mixture such as concrete, asphalt or the like in a ribbon on a supporting surface as the machine travels forwardly over such surface, comprising: a. a frame having a rigid front portion supported on a steerable front wheel assembly and a rear portion comprising a cross-beam secured to said front portion and a pair of longitudinally extending beams projecting rearwardly therefrom; b. means adjustably mounting at least one of said longitudinally extending beams on said cross-beam for movement toward and away from the other in a direction transverse to the direction of travel of the machine; c. a pair of wheel support assemblies supporting respective ones of said longitudinally extending beams and connected thereto by a vertical height adjusting mechanism; d. an open bottom hopper secured to said rear frame portion; e. a downwardly facing open bottom slip forming mold detachably secured to said hopper and extending rearwardly from the open bottom of said hopper; f. a paddle assembly rotatably mounted in said hopper for rotation about an axis transverse to the direction of travel of the machine to agitate the mixture in the hopper and transfer the same therefrom through the open bottom into said mold; and g. means for driving said paddle assembly.
 2. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said mold has a forward end opening into the hopper to provide a continuation of the open bottom and a trailing end located rearwardly therefrom and from which the deposited material emerges as the machine moves forwardly, said trailing end of the mold being located between the pair of wheel support assemblies and arranged relative to the position of attachment of the support assemblies to the longitudinal beams and hopper such that a major distribution of the weight of the machine on the groundengaging support assemblies is located adjacent the trailing end of the mold so as to provide a pivot point at said trailing end of the mold for turning of the machine in changing direction as it moves forwardly.
 3. A concrete laying machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the height adjustment mechanisms are operable by detector means on the machine adapted to detect vertical movement of the machine with respect to an external datum line.
 4. A machine as defined in claim 3 including further detector means on said machine adapted to actuate the steerable front which assembly in rsponse to changes in direction of said datum line
 5. A machine as defined in claim 1 including drive means connected to said front steerable wheel assembly to control the rate of travel of the machine in a forward direction.
 6. A concrete laying machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said ground-engaging wheel support assemblies comprise two trains of longitudinally spaced ground wheels located respectively on opposite sides of the machine, said wheels in each train being mounted on independent axles parallel to each other and disposed transverse to the direction of travel of the machine.
 7. A concrete laying machine according to claim 6 wherein each train of ground wheels consists of two pairs of tandem wheels and each pair of tandem wheels is independently pivotally connected to opposite ends of a major frame member of the respective ground wheel assembly.
 8. A concrete laying machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said height adjustment comprises hydraulic motors operable by a hydraulic system, the circuit of which includes control means adapted to select the direction and magnitude of the height adjustment.
 9. A concrete laying machine as defined in claim 8 wherein the height adjustment mechanisms are operable by detector means on the machine adapted to detect vertical movement of the machine with respect to an external datum line.
 10. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said hopper is located between said pair of longitudinally extending beams.
 11. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein said hopper is cantilevered from said beams and projects laterally from the machine in a direction transverse to the direction of travel thereof.
 12. A machine for laying a ribbon of moldable plastic mixture such as concrete or the like as the machine moves forwardly, comprising: a. a frame comprising a pair of longitudinally extending beams, a cross-beam interconnecting the same at the leading end thereof, and means adjustably mounting at least one of said longitudinally extending beams on said cross-beam for movement in a direction towards and away from the other one of said longitudinally extending beams; b. a pair of ground-engaging support assemblies; c. a height adjustment mechanism connected to the frame of said machine and connecting respective ones of two ground wheel assemblies located on opposite sides of the machine, said height adjustment mechanisms comprising hydraulic motors operable by a hydraulic system, the circuit of which includes control means adapted to select the direction and magnitude of the height adjustment and operable by detector means on the machine adapted to detect vertical movement of the machine with respect to an external datum line; d. a hopper secured to said frame for holding a plastic mixture to be deposited as the machine moves forwardly and having an open bottom for discharging the mixture directly onto the surface over which the machine travels, said hopper being located between the ground-engaging support assemblies; and e. a downwardly facing upon bottom mold mounted on said frame and extending rearwardly from said hopper, said mold having a forward end opening into the hopper to provide a continuation of the open bottom and a trailing end located rearwardly therefrom and from which the deposited material emerges as the machine moves forwardly, said trailing end of the mold being located between the ground-engaging support assemblies and arranged relative to the position of attachment of the support assemblies to the frame such that a major distribution of the weight of the machine on the ground-engaging support assemblies is located adjacent the trailing end of the mold so as to provide a pivot point at said trailing end of the mold for turning of the machine in changing direction as it moves forwardly.
 13. A machine as defined in claim 12 wherein said hopper is located between said pair of longitudinally extending beams.
 14. A machine as defined in claim 12 wherein said hopper is cantilevered from said beams and projects laterally from the machine in a direction transverse to the direction of travel thereof. 